Iceland 3 Turkey 0: Hosts start with a bang

Iceland started their bid to reach Euro 2016 in superb fashion with a 3-0 Group A win over a 10-man Turkey in Reykjavik.

Published

9 September 2014

The Nordic nation have never qualified for a major tournament but only missed out on reaching the 2014 World Cup in the play-offs against Croatia.

Turkey goalkeeper Onur Kivrak struggled throughout Tuesday's match and it was his error that allowed Jon Dadi Bodvarsson to head Iceland into a deserved 18th-minute lead.

The visitors had defender Omer Toprak sent off for handball, with his second yellow card in the 59th minute giving Iceland added impetus.

And after Burak Yilmaz spurned a great chance to equalise for Turkey, Kivrak tipped Gylfi Sigurdsson's 25-yard effort onto the post but saw the ball bounce and spin over the line.

Ajax striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson wrapped up the win with a 77th-minute strike as Iceland – who have risen from 131st to 46th in the FIFA rankings over the last two-and-a-half years – made an excellent start to their qualifying campaign.

Turkey boss Fatih Terim made three changes to the side that beat Denmark 2-1 in a friendly last week as Arda Turan, Emre Belozoglu and Olcan Adin came in.

But despite being in action just six days ago, it was Iceland – who last played in June – who looked far more threatening in the opening stages.

Birkir Bjarnason and Sigthorsson had early half-chances before Ireland were denied by the woodwork in the 14th minute.

Bodvarsson met Ari Freyr Skulason's cross with power but the effort came crashing back off the crossbar with Kivrak beaten.

Kivrak looked decidedly shaky through the first half and the Trabzonspor goalkeeper was to blame for the opener as he spilled a routine attempt to catch Sigurdsson's corner.

Bodvarsson was standing directly behind Kivrak and did just enough to direct an effort on goal after appearing to be caught by surprise.

And he then watched on with joy as his header just cleared Caner Erkin at the back post and went in via the crossbar.

Turkey's first chance came when a poor clearance found Selcuk Inan 25 yards out, but he could only curl over, before Bjarnson headed into the side netting at the other end with eight minutes of the first half to play.

Iceland's cause was made easier just before the hour-mark when Toprak, marking Sigthorsson, handled a long ball and was deservedly sent off.

Turkey still should have levelled, though, only for Yilmaz to blast over from inside the six-yard box.

And they were made to pay as although Sigurdsson's left-footed effort was initially clawed onto the woodwork, the spinning ball had enough on it to screw back over the line.

Sigthorsson then sealed the three points one minute later as he peeled off Ersan Gulum and fired into the bottom-left corner from 15 yards.